Congressman Submits Two Hercules Projects for Funding
— by Jeffrey Wisniewski — 17 December 2009 — 1 comment below »
Congressman George Miller has submitted two Hercules projects to “the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for inclusion in the 2010 Water Resources Development Act.” The funding requests include $1.65m for the Chelsea Wetlands restoration and $9m for dredging the San Pablo Bay for the future ferry terminal.
Some may deride these projects as “pork” (or recklessly report it as such) — as well as any government-funded project (because they are all pork) — but I contend that those individuals do not understand how government appropriation works, or purport that it works differently. Contrary to what some members of Congress suggest, if our representative wasn’t fighting for this well-deserved and commendable funding (restoring wetlands and mitigating flood waters, and providing alternative public transportation in a transit-oriented development), the funds would rather be allocated to some other representative’s district pet projects or, as some may refer to it, pork, and be used to create jobs elsewhere.
What is “pork” to some is jobs and needed local improvements to others. I’m grateful George Miller is fighting for us. There will be no Hercules Ferry if there is no dredging. San Pablo Bay is very shallow for a long way out, fishmermen can actually wade out at least 50 feet at low tide. Dredging isn’t optional, its a must. And preserving our natural wetlands to save the wonderful egrets and other water fowl who grace our shores also isn’t optional, at least to me. On my walks I have encountered bird watchers on several occasions. There is a lot here to preserve.